Test Scores, Technology

 

Test Scores. AP, GED, CLEP,  ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, Qualtrics, CASAS, LOPE, GRE, MCAT, MAT, LSAT, etc and etc.  If you have attended public school and even thought about attending college, most likely taken one or more of  these tests used to help determine eligibility for entrance, scholarships, and placement into beginning college courses.   Back in April 1977 when I was a high school junior we all took the ACT test one time.  Quite a bit depended on those scores.  I was able to test high enough that along with my high school GPA, I was admitted to and awarded a one year scholarship to the University of my choice.  These test scores are a pretty big deal, and in some families a lot of time, money and effort is spent helping children to earn high test scores on the college entrance exams.  

At the community college, we don't use the test scores as a criteria to determine whether or not a student is admitted to the college.  Any potential student who had earned a high school diploma or equivalent qualifies for admission to the college.  Test scores are however, important for determining the eligibility for certain scholarships, and especially for placement into beginning level Math, English, History, and Science classes.   There has long been debate about the accuracy of testing determining a student's potential ability to succeed in college, but currently most colleges and universities still required placement testing of some sort or another.  During the pandemic many schools have done away with using test scores from entrance exams to determine admissions, but most still require some testing to determine placement into different courses.  It is what it is.  Do you want to go to school and earn a degree?  You'll most likely be required to take and submit your test scores.